Locking door latch



Aug 17, 1954 B. LCRAIG 2,686,419

LOCKING DOOR LATCH Filed sept. 18, 195o INVEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Claims. l

Thisinvention relates to a locking door latch.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicledoor latch including novel lock means for controlling the latch on adoor of an automotive vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide door latching meansincluding a novel lock means which is operable in a novel manner tounlock the latch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel door latch handleassembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel coaxial combinedkey-controlled and dial actuated tumbler controlled lock assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle door latchhandle assembly which carries push button means for operating a doorlatch to release position and wherein a plurality of means is carried bythe handle and remote from the push button for rendering the push buttonmember inoperative to open the door.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view through a door and pillar, showingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3, Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the handle;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5 5, Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section, partly in elevation, showing thelocking member.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the invention is shownas embodied in a door latch arranged upon the door A of a vehicle whichincludes a door pillar B.

As shown, each latch includes a base plate I6, having a ange II thereon,which is provided wtih a slot I2 through which a bolt I3 protrudes. Thebolt I3 is shown as pivotally mounted on the base plate at I4 and at itsouter end supports a strike engaging roller I5.

The latches in the present disclosure are of the type shown inapplicants copending application Serial No. 103,431, led July 7, 1949,now Patent No. 2,659,230, dated November 17, 1953,

The protruding roller I5 moves in a slot I6 in a strike member II,arranged upon the car pillar. As fully described in applicants PatentNo. 2,- 659,230, dated November 17, 1953, the roller moves from one endof the slot I6 towards the other end to fully engaged position, where itholds the door closed due to a catch member 20 pivotally supported at 2lupon the base I0, and which includes notched portions 22 and 23.

The bolt I3 includes a pin 24 which rests upon the notched portion 22when the bolt is in the disengaged position. When the bolt is moved tosafety latched position, the pin engages the notch 23 and when the boltis raised to fully engaged position (see Fig. 2), the bolt engages anotched portion 25 just above the notch 23. When so engaged the boltcannot move downwardly to disengaged position until the catch member 20is swung about its pivotkZI and is released, as will be hereinafterdescribed. A tongue 25 on the base plate limits movement of the Catchmember in one direction.

One end of a spring 26, arranged about ther pivot pin I4, engages a pin2'I on the catch 20 and urges the catch 26 to bolt holding positionwhile the other end of the spring 26 engages a pin 28 on the bolt I3 tonormally urge the bolt downwardly to disengaged position.

The bolt may be released by means of an inside remote control doorhandle (not shown) which is connected by a rod 3I to a rock arm 33 whichis mounted on the pivot 2|. The lower end of the rock arm engages anactuating pin 34 mounted on a latch releasing member 35. The rock armwill thus move the pin 34 and the pin will move the catch 20, thuspermitting the spring 26 to move the latch bolt to disengaged positionas the door is opened.

In order to provide means exterior of the vehicle for releasing thecatch members 20 and also to provide means for locking the release meansagainst unwarranted operation, a carriage member 36 is provided for eachcatch. Each carriage member is pivoted on a pivot 31 on the base II).V

One end of the carriage member 36 is raised at 36' and a snap-overspring 36 is arranged between this raised portion 36 and the base I6 tohold the carriage member in either one of its two positions. Tongues35', struck from the base I6, limit movement of the carriage member 36.

The carriage member 36 includes a projecting end portion 38 whichextends through a slot 38 in the flange II. The end of the portion 38supports a roller 38".

The carriage member is similar in some respects in construction andoperation to the carriage member shown in Fig. 32 of the applicantsprior Patent No. 2,204,208, granted June 11, 1940.

Guide tongues 39 on the carriage member 36 slidably support the latchrelease member 35 previously mentioned. When the carriage member 3 is inthe position shown in Fig. 2 and the release member 35 is moved, the pin34 will engage the tongue 49 on the catch 29 to move the catch. A tongue41 on the carriage member limits movement or" the release member in onedirection.

When the carriage member 33 is swung about its pivot 31, the pin 34 willbe disposed opposite a slot 49 in the catch 29 so that when the releasemember 35 moves to releasing position, the pin 34 will move into theslot 48 without moving the catch member 28. The latch just described isfully disclosed and described in the applicants Patent No. 2,659,230,dated November 17, 1953, mentioned above.

The carriage member 35 includes an elongated slot 46 which is alignedwith a slot 41 in the base I8, and the latch releasing member 35 is alsoprovided with a slot 48, aligned with the slots 4c and 41. The slots 46,4'| and 48 receive one end portion of a releasing arm 49, which may beoperated from the exterior of the door, as will be described.

The releasing arm is carried by an outside actuator, indicated generallyat (see Fig. l). As shown, the actuator is similiar to the handleassembly disclosed in Fig. 2 in the applicants Patent No. 2,450,372,granted September 28, 1948. As shown the actuator includes a body 5|,having a hand grip 52 thereon. A slip plate 52 holds the body 5| inplace.

The body 5| includes a bore 53 in which a push member 54 is arranged.The push member 54 includes a flanged portion 55 in an enlarged bore 53'which normally is urgedagainst a shoulder 56 by a spring 51, which alsoengages a flange 58 on a support 59. A guide washer 58 engages the endof the flange 58 and a split spring 5| holds the parts assembled.

The push member 54 slides in the bore 53 and includes a body havingholes 63 therein. In the holes pins S4 carried by the support 59 slideto permit the push'member 54 to slide axially relative tothe support 59and to turn therewith. The support y59 is rotatable and includes ears 65on which the arm 49 previously mentioned and described is pivoted as at65.

The arm 49 includes a bell crank portion 81 which is engaged by a pin 68on the lower portion of the barrel of the push member 54 and theconstruction is such that the arm 49 is rocked by the push member whenthe latter moves axially. As stated, the arm 49 extends through theslots 43, 47 and 48, the slot 41 being of a size so that its wall is notengaged by the releasing arm 49. The slot 48 is of a size to comfortablyreceive the releasing arm 49 so that as the push member 54. is pushedinwardly, the arm 49 is rocked, thus moving the latch releasing member35 to the right in Fig. l.

This will cause the pin 34 on the latch releasing member 35 to engagethe catch member 29, causing the catch member to be rocked, thusreleasing the bolt-I3 so that the latter may be moved downwardly by thespring 28' as the door opens.

This last described action occurs when the carr'iage member is in theunlockedthat is, the position shown in Fig. 2. When the carriage member33 is moved to the locked position and the releasing arm 49 is 'rockedto shift the latch releasing member 35, the pin'34 will move into anotch 48 in the catch member 28 and thus there will be no releasingaction by movement of the latch releasing member 35.

Full movement ofthe arm 49 by the push member 54 will not move therelease 'member 35 far enough to move the pin 34 sufficiently to engagethe rear wall of the slot 40 so that no unlocking occurs when thecarriage member is in unlocking position. However, when the remotecontrol member 3| is pulled it will move the member 33 far enough toshift the pin 34 against the rear wall of the slot 40 to rock the member23 and release the latch.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the latch may bereleased by operating the push member 54 when the carriage member 35 isin one position and that a similar operation of the pushing member 54,when the carriage member 35 is in the other position, will not serve toopen the door. However, the inside release 'member 3| may be operated torelease the catch member and to free the bolt regardless of whichposition (locked or unlocked) the carriage member may happen to be in.

The body 5| includes another bore 80 from which an enlarged bore 8|extends and from the enlarged borev 8| a further enlarged bore 82extends. Within the bore 82 a nonrotatable closure 83 is arranged. Thisclosure includes an inwardly directed ange 84 and the closure 33 is heldin place by a tight nt and by a split ring 85.

The closure 83 supports a guide sleeve 86 which has tongues 81 thereonpassing through slot 38 in the closure. The sleeve includes an internalflange 39 which is engaged by a shoulder Si) on a lock barrel 9|. Thelock barrel includes a projecting operating portion 92.

A dial member 94 which includes a iinger engaging portion 95, has a bore96 receiving the lock barrel portionv 92 Y .previously mentioned. Thesleever8| is arranged in a bore 91 in the dialmember 94. The lock barrelmay turn in the sleeve85 but is normally held against rotation by a pinV|00 carried by an arm IBI pivoted at |92 to the closure 83. A spring |43normally tends to urge the pin |30 into aligned slots |04 and |95 in thesleeve 86 and in onek of the arms` |05 carried by the barrel 9|.

In the lockbarrel 9| a corell is arranged. This core may be turned by akey` 93. The core includes aiflange i l I which is `engaged by one endof a spring ||2, the other end of .the spring rengaging .the closure 83.

The core H0 and the lock barrel 9| are parts of locks ofstandardconstruction, the details of which are well known and need notbe further described. The construction is such that when the key 93 isinserted in the core I0, suitable pins (not shown) will be aligned,permitting the key to turn the core lll) relative to the barrel 9|.

They core ||8 carries and turns an operating member ||3 which has anoffset end ||4 fixed thereon.

The offset end ||4 of the operating member is disposed in a slot ||5 inan extension H5 carried bythecar'riage member'l 36, and the constructionis such that when the key 93 is inserted the core ||J will be turned,thus turning the operating member ||3-and the offset end H4 thereon tomove the arm H5 from locking to unlocking position, or vice-versa. Theslot ||5 is elongated and when the core is in normal intermediate.position and the locking member 3B is unlocked, .as shown in'Fig. 2,the .portion |14 will be atzone end oftheV slot. When the carriagemember is locked the portion l I4 will be at the other end of the slot.

`In orderto provide for operation of the carriage member 35 to or fromlocked position without the use of a key, the dial member 95 is ar- 5rangedto function with a series of tumblers |20,l |2| and |22 whichinclude operating pins |23.

Pins |24, carried by the dial member 94, i'lt in holes |25 in thetumbler |22 and thus rotate the tumbler when the dial member is rotated;Tumbler locks are in common use and the construction is such that whenthe dial 94 is properly positioned, tumblers |20, |2| and |22 will bealigned in a desired position. In the present invention each tumblerincludes a notch |26 and when the tumblers are properly positioned thenotches will be aligned and will be disposed opposite to the armpreviously mentioned.

The dial 94 carries a pin |30 which, when the dials are properlypositioned, is aligned with a' bent portion |3| on'the arm |0| so thatwhen the dial is pushed inwardly the pin |30 will engage the arm 0| androck the arm into the notches |26. This will pull the pin |00 from theslot so that the lock barrel will be declutched from the sleeve 86. Whenthis is done the portion 92 may be rotated to rotate the lock barrel.The lock barrel will turn the core member 0 and the core member willswing the endv ||4 of the operating member to cause movement of theportion I5 of the carriage member 36.

This last mentioned operation will take place without rotation of thecore ||0 relative to the lock barrel 9| and, of course, without the useof the key 93.

In the drawings the tumblers |20, |2| and |22 are shown as held spacedapart by annular members |225 which are held in place by split rings|22".

The pins |24 are of such length that when pin |30 has engaged and rockedthe arm I0 the pins |24 will not have moved into contact with thetumbler |2|.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention includes novel means, shown as included in a door handleassembly for opening a door and for controlling the locking andunlocking of the door.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a vehicle door lock, a supporting body, a lock barrel movablycarried by the body, clutch means holding the lock barrel againstmovement relative to the body, a head member within the lock barrel, keyreleased means normally preventing relative movement between the headmember and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the body, amovable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial member forrotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned withrespect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter thegatings in the tumblers, said clutch means including a dial movedelement associated with the fence in such a manner as to be operable bythe dial as the fence is being moved into the gatings to declutch thelock barrel from the body, and operating means on the head memberadapted to shift a catch releasing member to a position wherein it maybe moved to catch releasing position, the operating means being operableby the head member either when the head member is freed from the lockbarrel by the key released means or when the lock barrel is declutchedfrom the supporting body.

2. In a vehicle door lock, a supporting body, a lock barrel rotatablymounted in the body, clutch means normally holding the lock barrelagainst movement relative to the body, a head member movable in the lockbarrel, key released means normally preventing relative movement between6. the head member and the lock barrel, gated tum" blers rotatable inthe body, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dialmember for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positionedwith respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enterthe gatings in the tumblers, said clutch means including an elementassociated with the fence in such a manner as to be operable by the dialas the fence is being moved into the gatings to declutch the lock barrelfrom the supporting body, a catch releasing member, a movable carriagesupporting the catch releasing member, the carriage being shiftable tomove the catch releasing member to and from a position wherein it may bemoved to and from catch releasingv position, and operating means on thehead member for shifting the carriage and the catch releasing member toa position wherein the catch releasing member may be moved to catchreleasing position, the operating means being operable by the headmember either when the head member is freed from the lock barrel by thekey released means or when the lock barrel is declutched from thesupporting body.

3. In a vehicle door lock, a supporting body, guide means carried by thebody, a lock barrel rotatably mounted in the guide means, clutch meansnormally holding the lock barrel against movement relative to the guidemeans, a head member rotatable within the lock barrel, key releasedmeans normally preventing relative rotation between the head member andthe lockbarrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the body, a movable fencecooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial member for rotating thetumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to oneanother and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings in thetumblers, said clutch means including an element associated with thefence in such a manner as to be operable by the dial as the fence isbeing moved into the gatings to declutch the lock barrel from the guidemeans, a catch releasing member, a movable carriage supporting the catchreleasing member, the carriage being shitable to move the catchreleasing member to and from a position wherein it may be moved to andfrom catch releasing position. and

operating means in the head member for shift- Y ing the carriage and thecatch releasing member to a position wherein the catch releasing membermay be moved to catch releasing position, the operating means beingoperable by the head member either when the head member is freed fromthe lock barrel by the key released means or when the lock barrel isdeclutched from the guide means.

4. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered bodyl a fixed sleeve carried bythe body, a lock barrel rotatably mounted in the sleeve, clutch meansnormally holding the lock barrel against movement relative to thesleeve, a head member rotatable within the lock barrel, key releasedmeans normally preventing relative rotation between the head member andthe lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movablefence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial member for rotatingthe tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to oneanother and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings in thetumblers, said clutch means including an element engaging the lockbarrel and carried by the fence, the fence and element being operated onaxial movement of the dial to cause the fence to enter said gatingsVandthe elementI to'- disengageA thev lockrbarreltcrdeclutch the lockbarrel-from the sleeve, a catch releasing. member operable-to release acatch member, azmovable carriage supporting the catch releasing member,the carriage being shiftable to move thecatch releasing member to andfrom a position wherein itv may be shifted to catch releasing position,and voperating means on the head .member for shifting the carriageandthe catch releasing member tothe position wherein.- the catchreleasing member may be shifted to catch releasing position, theoperating means being operable `by the head member either when the head.member is freed from the lock barrel by the key released means or whenthe lock barrel is declutched from the sleeve.

5.In a vehicle door lock, a chamberedbody, a tixedsleeve carried by thebody, a lockbarrel rotatably mounted in the sleeve, :clutch meansnormally holding the lock barrel against movement. relative to the.sleeve, a head member rotatable within the lock barrel, an operatingmember on the head member, key released means normally preventingrelative rotation between the head member and the lock barrel, gatedtumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fence cooperating with thegated tumblers, a dial member for rotating the tumblers whereby thetumblers `may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fenceto allow the fence to enter 3 the gatings in the tumblers, said clutchmeans including an element engaging the lock barrel and carried by thefence, the fence and element being operated on axial movement yof theVdialv to cause-thelfence toenter the gatings and. the elementtoVdisengage the lock barrel to declutch the lock ,barrel from the sleeve,a catch releasing member adapted to be actuated to release a catchmember, a .movable carriage supporting thecatch releasing member,v thecarriage being shiftable to move the catch releasing member to and froma position wherein it may be. shifted to catch releasing position, crankmeans connectingthe operating member to the `carriage forV shifting thecarriage. .to a position-whereinzthe catch releasing member maybeshifted to catch releasing position, and apushbutton slidable in thechamber-'ed body, a. latch actuating member on the push button, .thelatch actuating member being voperable by the push button tovmove thecatch releaskingmember to its catch releasing position when theYcarriage has been shifted to the position wherein the catch .releasingmember maybe moved toV catch releasing position, the crank means beingoperable by the head member either when the head member is freed fromthe lock barrelby the keyreleased means or when the lock barrel isdeclutched from the sleeve.

- References Cited -in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 1,362,417 Hammer Dec. 14, 1920 2,289,129 Lalonde July7, 1942

